Unless a person grew their own vegetables or lived close to a farm, food choices were limited to local supermarket products. Without modern refrigeration methods, transportation of vegetables from the farm to the city was difficult; only the hardiest of lettuce could be safely shipped. Iceberg lettuce was just such a hardy lettuce.
A Hardy Lettuce: Iceberg was the lettuce of choice for shipping because it could be packed in ice yet remain fresh and crisp until it arrived at its destination. Generally shipped by train from California to destinations around the country, it was able to reach grocery store shelves in relatively good condition. Other lettuces and green leafy vegetables were not quite so hardy and would instead reach their destination in unsaleable condition. Consumers did not have much choice in the lettuce they could select.
A century ago Iceberg lettuce was piled high on produce aisle shelves and consumers could not get enough of this crispy moist green vegetable. Today, however, the production of iceberg lettuce is dropping. Consumers now have a variety of choices and are choosing the darker leaf varieties instead. So what nutritional facts about iceberg lettuce give this green such a bad rap in today's health-conscious society?
It is not as nutritious as other leafy vegetables so consumers are switching to other dark green leafy vegetables to acquire the additional vitamins and minerals per serving that iceberg does not offer. Now that consumers have a choice, they are choosing nutrition over texture and purchasing more spinach, chard, romaine lettuce, as well as other dark red-leaf and green-leaf vegetables.
To meet the changing needs of consumers, farmers are reducing iceberg production and increasing their crops of spinach, Swiss chard, romaine lettuce, and other darker red and green leafy vegetables.
Of course, iceberg lettuce does also have its own unique attributes when it comes to lettuce varieties. It has a distinct crunch. This lettuce has a nice crisp snap when you bite into it which cannot be replicated by other leafy vegetables. In giving up iceberg lettuce consumers are also giving up the wonderful crispy texture experience which only this salad green seems capable of offering so a blending of leafy greens is the new preferred salad option.
Despite the fact that obesity rates are at an all-time high, society as a whole is taking a healthier view of the foods that they consume. It turns out that people are making healthier food choices to offset the not-so-healthy ones. So does it make sense that people are switching from iceberg lettuce to more nutritious leafy vegetables when they are still chowing down on fatty take-out food? Apparently, it does.
The added benefit is knowing that by choosing highly nutritious ingredients in your salads, you can feel a little less guilty about consuming your other unhealthy foods. Consumers are more than happy to add a few additional health benefits to one area of their diet if they are then able to relax a little in another.
Fortunately, salads are rarely made from just one vegetable, and adding iceberg lettuce into the mix will give a crisp texture to a salad that only it can give. The moist crispness of an iceberg salad is delightful for picnics in the summer. In the fall and winter, an iceberg salad adds a touch of class to the dining room table that just cannot be replicated by other side dishes. Its texture is irreplaceable. Iceberg lettuce is all about the texture.
With a few well-chosen ingredients, a crisp garden salad can add an attractive touch of class and romance to an otherwise basic meal. A salad served with a variety of vegetables can be a decorative addition to any table setting. No one has ever said that one lettuce is all that is allowed so choose two or three to provide a variety of colours and textures to your meal side dishes.
Nutritional Information of Iceberg Lettuce
Iceberg lettuce has zero fat, zero cholesterol, and only 15 calories per serving. In this regard, it is a dieter's delight. However, when it comes to nutrition, this lettuce is sadly lacking. Per average serving, it contains only two percent of our daily Iron requirement, six percent of our vitamin C requirement, four percent of our daily requirement of vitamin A, two percent of our daily calcium requirement, and one gram of protein.
To meet the changing needs of consumers, farmers are reducing iceberg production and increasing their crops of spinach, Swiss chard, romaine lettuce, and other darker red and green leafy vegetables.
Of course, iceberg lettuce does also have its own unique attributes when it comes to lettuce varieties. It has a distinct crunch. This lettuce has a nice crisp snap when you bite into it which cannot be replicated by other leafy vegetables. In giving up iceberg lettuce consumers are also giving up the wonderful crispy texture experience which only this salad green seems capable of offering so a blending of leafy greens is the new preferred salad option.
What pairs well with salad greens? There are many options. Customize your salad with a diverse array of vegetables, nuts, and seeds.
Tomato
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Celery
Cucumber
Diced ham or turkey
Bacon bits
Boiled eggs
Cheese curds or chunks
Walnuts
Cashews
Sunflower seeds
Flax seeds
The number of available iceberg lettuce options is unlimited so be creative. Used to replace the bread in a sandwich or having it combined within a meat, cheese, tomato, or other sandwich type adds that nice crisp crunch to your meal. There are many ways to liven up your dining table. Having one salad or three on the table is perfectly acceptable. You can also choose to set each ingredient out in separate bowls and allow family or guests to design their own.
Tomato
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Celery
Cucumber
Diced ham or turkey
Bacon bits
Boiled eggs
Cheese curds or chunks
Walnuts
Cashews
Sunflower seeds
Flax seeds
The number of available iceberg lettuce options is unlimited so be creative. Used to replace the bread in a sandwich or having it combined within a meat, cheese, tomato, or other sandwich type adds that nice crisp crunch to your meal. There are many ways to liven up your dining table. Having one salad or three on the table is perfectly acceptable. You can also choose to set each ingredient out in separate bowls and allow family or guests to design their own.
The added benefit is knowing that by choosing highly nutritious ingredients in your salads, you can feel a little less guilty about consuming your other unhealthy foods. Consumers are more than happy to add a few additional health benefits to one area of their diet if they are then able to relax a little in another.
Fortunately, salads are rarely made from just one vegetable, and adding iceberg lettuce into the mix will give a crisp texture to a salad that only it can give. The moist crispness of an iceberg salad is delightful for picnics in the summer. In the fall and winter, an iceberg salad adds a touch of class to the dining room table that just cannot be replicated by other side dishes. Its texture is irreplaceable. Iceberg lettuce is all about the texture.
With a few well-chosen ingredients, a crisp garden salad can add an attractive touch of class and romance to an otherwise basic meal. A salad served with a variety of vegetables can be a decorative addition to any table setting. No one has ever said that one lettuce is all that is allowed so choose two or three to provide a variety of colours and textures to your meal side dishes.